Compare towns

Acton vs Hingham vs Hudson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($366k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureActonHinghamHudson
People
Population
24,155
24,283Highest
7,469Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.5±0.8Lowest
14% above U.S.
48.4±2.4Highest
24% above U.S.
46.3±3.4
19% above U.S.
Hingham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.2%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.8%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hingham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Hingham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
79.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
76.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hudson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$158,230±$14k
96% above U.S.
$178,390±$15kHighest
121% above U.S.
$95,842±$19kLowest
19% above U.S.
Hingham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$807,300±$20k
143% above U.S.
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
241% above U.S.
$366,400±$24kLowest
10% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,986±$155
41% above U.S.
$2,465±$603Highest
74% above U.S.
$1,722±$86Lowest
22% above U.S.
Hingham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,729Lowest
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.7%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
60.3%±12Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
34.9%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hingham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
31% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
34 minLowest
28% above U.S.
Work from home
35.9%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.1%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±7.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Acton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #13 of 282 in MA #14 of 282 in MA #63 of 120 in NH
School district Acton-Boxborough Hingham —
High school in town Acton-Boxborough Regional High Hingham High —
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5Highest
12.9Lowest
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U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.